Genre: Comedy, Adventure
Directed by: Boots Riley
Starring: Keke Palmer, LaKeith Stanfield, Naomi Ackie, Demi Moore
Release: May 22, 2026
Platform: Theatrical
Rating: 4/5
By Karl Simpson Jr.
“You can tell the filmmakers are pushing boundaries on purpose.”
With its world premiere at the recent SXSW Film & TV Festival, I LOVE BOOSTERS felt like a full-on fever dream, and that’s exactly what makes it work. It’s loud, chaotic, and constantly throwing new ideas at you. At times, it even feels like it might be doing too much. But there’s a confidence underneath all of it that keeps things from falling apart. Even when it’s pushing limits, you stay locked in. What starts as a story about a group of shoplifters going after a ruthless fashion figure quickly opens up into something bigger, messier, and a lot more layered than it first appears.
The score plays a huge role. It’s loud, unpredictable, and at times overwhelming. That might not work for everyone, but for me, it absolutely did. The music isn’t just there hovering in the background; it drives the film. It builds tension, adds energy, and leans into that sense that things could spiral at any moment. Instead of trying to control that chaos, the film embraces it.
The cast is fully committed to the tone, and that makes a big difference. Keke Palmer stands out right away. She brings confidence, charisma, and a real emotional presence to the role. Even when things get chaotic, she keeps you grounded. You stay connected to her, and that connection gives the film something solid to hold onto. The rest of the cast matches her energy, which helps the world feel lived-in rather than just stylized.
Visually, the film is striking. The colors that are utilized are bold and vibrant, giving everything within it an almost hypnotic feel. There’s also a clear sense of experimentation, especially with the stop-motion and miniature elements. Those choices add a playful, creative edge that keeps things feeling fresh. Even when it gets messy, it never feels careless. You can tell the filmmakers are pushing boundaries on purpose.
Underneath all that style, the film is dealing with bigger ideas. It’s not just about fashion or stealing; it’s about class, labor, and inequality. It keeps coming back to the imbalance between those at the top and the people doing the work. It also touches on identity and ownership, such as who gets credit, who gets paid, and who gets left behind. There’s a clear sense that a lot of what gets celebrated is built on the backs of people who don’t get to benefit from it.
There’s also a romantic character who drifts in and out of the story. At first, he feels familiar, charming, and a little mysterious. But the more he shows up, the more he starts to feel symbolic. Whenever he’s around, the energy shifts and things slow down. It’s like the main character is being pulled in another direction. The film seems to be exploring how easy it is to get caught up in something personal while bigger issues are still unfolding. There’s also a subtle point about relationships, and how they can feel meaningful but still take something from you.
What really stands out is how relevant the film feels. Beneath all the surreal visuals and chaotic storytelling, it’s tapping into something real. There’s a growing frustration around work, money, and the systems people have to navigate just to get by. The film doesn’t spell everything out, but you can feel that tension running through it. It even hints at how people dealing with similar struggles can end up divided instead of recognizing they’re facing the same system.
At the end of the day, I LOVE BOOSTERS is messy, bold, and completely its own thing. It doesn’t land every idea, and there are moments where it feels like it’s trying to do too much. But even then, it’s hard not to respect the film’s ambition. It’s stylish, energetic, and full of personality, with performances and visuals that keep you engaged from start to finish. More than anything, it sticks with you because it’s willing to be loud, strange, and unapologetically different.
